Stoker



W. T. HANNA Aug. 24, 1937.

STOKER Original Filed June 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l a H M H F m m .U. m

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ATTORNEYS W. T. HANNA Aug. 24, 1937.

STOKER 2 SheetsSheet 2 Original Filed June 18, 1928 INVENTOR I M'lliam [Hanna ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT oFF cE 2,090,628 STOKER William Thompson Hanna, Cincinnati, Ohio Original application June 18, 1928, Serial No.' 286,222. Divided and this application May 10, 1934, Serial No. 724,838. Renewed November 23, 1936. In Canada.

2 Claims.

In stokers for spreading fuel over the fire bed of a locomotive, the fuel usually flows from the locomotive tende'r'to a hopper located therebeneath and thence througha conduit, or passageway, to the'fire box. "From the mouth of this passageway the fuel is spread as uniformly as possible over 'the entire area of the fire bed by fuel distributing mechanism preferably employing a fluid blast as fuel-impelling,v or,conveying,

means. This distributing mechanism is located relatively close to the fire bed, and so being ex.

posed to the intense heat of the fire is subjected todamaging effects to which other parts of the stoking mechanism are not exposed. Such being the case, it is desirable to make parts subject tothe damaging effects of the high temperature readily replaceable in the event of damage. It isoneofjth objects .of this invention to provide for such'replacement. I

I-lowever, fire boxes in different locomotives varyin dimensions. For'example, the inclinationsofthe back heads vary and also on one locomotive the distributing mechanism may :55 necessarily 'be'located relatively low in along fire box, while in another it must be located relatively high in a shorter firebox. In each, the manner in which'the fuel is impelled from the distributing mechanism will necessarily be different. Another variable which enters into the distribution of the fuel is the nature and condition' of. the fuel itself During a single run of a. locomotive, at onetime the fuel may be wet and sticky, at another time .dry and powdered,

andhatanother time filled with relatively large lumps. To compensate for these variations, it is desirable to provide for adjustment of certain ofrthe parts of the distributing mechanism so that.a -stokermodel may be adjusted to supply various types of fire boxes, and -to operate on fuel having different characteristics as to size,

I moisture content, etc. It is another object ofv this invention to-provide for such adjustment of parts of the distributing mechanism.

June 17, 1929 Other objects will be in part obvious and in' part pointed out'hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplifed in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown one or more of the various possible em:- bodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a stoker taken along a longitudinal line and showing (also {in vertical section) distributing mechanismem bodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a top horizontal'section of Figure 1 taken on line 29-2 of Figure l'and showing the distributing mechanism in top plan; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a distributing plate and blast chamber shownin Figure 1, showing the cooperative relation of the one to the other; y

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3 as viewed from inside thefire box;

Figure 5 is a side elevation (certain parts being shown in section) of the parts shown'in Figure 3 and their relation to thespillway of the fuel housing, showing the distributing plate in its advanced or forward position; and, g

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 except that the distributing plate is in recessed position.

'Corresponding reference charactersrefer to, corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 7 r

Referring to Figures land 2, a firebox is generally indicated at I having the usual back head 3 provided with a firing opening 5. embraced by a fuel supply housing 1 which is part of the mechanical stoking mechanism describedin my aforementioned. copending. application. j Fuel' coming from a source of supply, not shown; is forced to rise through an elevating conduit 9 to housing 1 and to flow through the firing open.- ing under theinfiuence of screw conveyer l l located within the conduit.

Mounted within the housing are fuel conditioning and regulating means comprisingworrns L4- and ,l5. Asdescribed in my aforementioned application, these worms thin out and regulate the fiow of the fuel to the firing opening so that it flows therethrough in'a regulated stream. The conveyer [I and the fuel conditioning means are driven through suitable gearing by means of a motor generally indicated at l6;v

l8 and la The mechanism just described insures the passage of fuel entering the housing 1 from the elevating conduit 9 over the ledge, or spillway, 8, in an even stream, from whence it flows upon and over a blast chamber generally indicated at l8 and forming part of fuel distributing mechanism generally indicated at IT.

While in the embodiment illustrated the conduit 9 is shown as delivering fuel to the firing opening 5, it is to be understood that the conduit may be of the type entering the fire box independently of the firing opening 5 in which event the distributing mechanism |l associated with the mouth of the conduit would be located entirely within the fire box.

The blast chamber |8 is provided with a plurality of fingers l9 through which jets of relatively high pressure steam may be directed. As shown in Figure 4, the top portions of the fingers l9 slope downwardly and forwardly into the fire box, and, in effect, form a grating, the fingers l9 forming the ridges of the'grating, and the openings 9 forming the openings between the ridges or fingers [9. With this arrangement, fuel flowing over the grating formed by the fingers I9 is, in effect, screened, the larger particles riding over the fingers and the smaller particles of the fuel falling through the elongated openings I I9.

Further, the fingers l9 are arranged in a fanformation whereby the openings I I9 between the fingers diverge thereby eliminating any tendency for particles of fuel to become wedged between the fingers I9.

Likewise, the jets of steam directed into the fire box through the fingers |9 are directed in a fan-formation to enable the distributing device, comprising the blast chamber I8 and a distributing plate (generally indicated at 3|), to distribute the fuel over all portions of the fire bed. Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a plurality of other series of jets 20 and 2|. are also provided in the chamber |8 arranged to the right and left sides of the fingers |9,,and in a lower plane. Still another opening 22 is provided in the blast chamber l8 and is arranged in the form of a slit, which gives a blast in the form of a ribbon. I find it preferable to supply the jets issuing from the fingers l9 with high pressure steam whereby the larger lumps falling over the ends of the fingers I9 may be effectively carried to the proper place in the fire box, and, as will be hereinafter described, I find it preferable to supply the jets 20, 2| and 22 with steam of a lower pressure. However, under certain conditions of operation I may find it desirable to vary these arrangements of high and low pressure steam.

The blast chamber H3 is provided with arms I8 and l8 which serve as conduits for the passage of the steam, and by means of which the said chamber is pivotally supported in the side walls of the housing I by pipe sections 23 and 24 which are secured respectively in the side walls thereof and which pivotally support the respective arms Said pipe sections are coupled to the high and low pressure steam lines by unions not shown. If at any time it is desired to temporarily displace the blast chamber |8' from the fire box, it may be turned backwards through the firing hole swinging around the pivots 23 and 24 and caused to rest upon the top of the coal in the housing 3.

Immediately below the blast chamber |8 in the fire box is the distributor plate 3|, normally stationary but slidably mounted for adjustment, by means of extensions 3| resting upon lugs 32,

Figures 2 and 5, projecting from the housing I and additionally supported by the lugs 3| which bear against lugs 33, also projecting from the housing 1, Figures 1 and 5.

The blast chamber is rests on the distributor plate 3|, and by means of its pivoted arrangement serves to lock it in position, that is, serves to prevent its being inadvertently raised from the supporting lugs 32 and 33. However, when it is desired to remove the distributing plate from the fire box, or for any other reason to raise it from the lugs 32 and 33, this may be accomplished by first turning back the blast chamber |8 by swinging it around the pivots 23 and 24 to free the plate 3| and then. raising the plate from the lugs 32 and 33.

The distributor plate 3| is of a design which serves to distribute the fuel over the fire bed in an efficient manner, and particularly as regards the back corners of the fire box, which sections of the fire bed are reached mainly by means of the channels 3 I. I further increase the efficiency of the distributing device by the particular arrangement of surfaces 3| and 3| as shown. It is preferable to form the surface 3| in a substantially horizontal plane and in such a position that steam jets striking the plate 3| are deflected therefrom, thereby carrying particles of fuel thereon over the channel 3| to deposit the fuel immediately in front of the distributin device.

I prefer to form the surface 3|. inclining slightly forwardly and downwardly into the fire box whereby steam issuing from the jets l9 and 20 (the steam jets expanding along their median lines) do not strike the plate or surface 3| in such a way as to cause the steam jets to deflect therefrom. Consequently any tendency for the jets to carry fuel upwardly and into the stack is substantially offset by this arrangement of the surface 3| In other words, the arrangement of the plate 3 l in such a manner causes the steam jets issuing from the blast chamber to remain approximately parallel with the fire bed thereby to carry more effectively the fuel straight out over it.

The surface 3| of the distributor plate 3| is positioned beneath the grating formed by the fingers Hi, and accordingly the finer fuel particles falling between the fingers l9 fall there;

thus the surface 3| coacts with the blasts of steam issuing from the slit 22 to efficiently and uniformly distribute the finer particles over the fire bed. In like manner, the channels 3| coact with the low pressure jets 20 and 2| to scatter and distribute fuel into the near corners of the fire box.

In order that the distributor plate may serve to cover more effectively the back corners of the fire bed, and in order that the distributing mechanism may be adapted to various widely different types of, fire boxes, its position longitudinally of the fire bed may be varied by means of crank shaft 34, Figure 1, suitably journaled in bearings on the housing I and having a handle 34 and an arm 35 keyed therewith which latter is linked to the distributor plate by means of the link 33. The advanced or forward position of the distributor plate is shown in Figure 5, and a receded position thereof is shown in Figure 6. With the distributing plate advanced to its forward position, fuel is caused to travel a greater distance from the distributing plate, while in its backmost position, the fuel is allowed to fall to the fire bed at a shorter distance from the plate. In-

termediate positions of the plate produce corresponding efiects.

I have also provided means for cooling the distributor plate. To this end the blast chamber is provided with extensions I8 which are chambered to connect with one of the steam conduits and each of said extensions is provided with one or more openings 65 whereby jets of steam may be suitably directed to the underneath side of said distributor plate.

With this novel construction and arrangement of the blast chamber l8 and distributing plate 3|, I accomplish new and highly advantageous results. For example, as the mass of fuel (which consists of a heterogeneous mixture of large and small particles) flows over the ledge 8 onto the blast chamber N3, the fingers l9 act to screen the fuel to separate the larger from the smaller particles whereby the larger particles flowing over the ends of the fingers are picked up by the high pressure jets of steam issuing therefrom and are carried to the far parts of the fire bed, but are not carried out of the fire box into the stack of the locomotive, the steam pressure being controlled to prevent such operation. The smaller particles falling between the fingers onto the surface 3| do not immediately come into contact with the high pressure jets, but are picked up by the low pressure ribbon jet of steam issuing from the jet 22 and are swept over the surface Sl and are thus carried eifectively to all parts of the fire box without being carried out of the stack by the high pressure jets. As the low pressure jets expand upwardly, and the high pressure jets expand downwardly, the two meet in a neutralizing zone, which also aids in the desired distribution of the finer particles over the fire bed.

One of the elements tending to perfect this unique and highly advantageous distribution of the finer particles over the fire bed is the particular construction of the surface 3| and its particular relative position with respect to the low pressure steam jet 22, for this arrangement and construction serves to govern the ultimate course which the finer particles are to take.

As various embodiments might be made of this invention, and as various changes might be made in the construction herein described, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1

1. In combination with a furnace having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a housing embracing said opening, a distributor plate slidably seated in said opening, means for slidably adjusting said plate, a blast chamber so seated on said plate as to prevent its removal from operative position, said blast chamber being provided with openings adapted to discharge across said plate, and hollow arms secured to the respective ends of said blast chamber and communicating therewith, said arms being pivotally connected with said housing in such a manner that said blast chamber can be swung thereon from its position in said opening.

2. In combination with a furnace having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a housing having an opening communicating with said firing opening, a distributor plate adjustably resting in said firing opening on supports, means for adjusting said plate to change the distribution of fuel, a blast chamber so seated on said plate as to prevent its accidently moving from operative position on said supports, said blast chamber being provided with openings adapted to discharge across said plate, and hollow arms secured to the respective ends of said blast chamber and communicating therewith, said arms providing mounting means for pivotally mounting said blast chamber with respect to said housing so that the blast chamber can be swung from its position in said opening.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA. 

